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The Yiddish Policemen's Union to be a Film

Allan Fineberg's picture

It's mind-boggling. The amazing, funny, fascinating book by Michael Chabon, The Yiddish Policemen's Union, is actually being filmed by the Coen brothers. What makes this of interest to Esperanto-speakers is this: some of the action in the film is set in the fictional Hotel Zamenhof, which has brass plaques set into the walls giving the Esperanto words for lavatory, elevator, stairway and buffet, among others.

Chabon's humor is kind of subtle, but read the book and it might grab you. And wait 'til you see the film: you'll doubtless find it a hoot and a half.
I just hope the brothers Coen consult some bona fide Esperanto speakers to get the words right.

novels with Esperanto

I've read some comments that the quality of the Esperanto in Chabon's novel was a little dubious, but still I am interested to read it.

I did read another novel published around the same time, Andrew Drummond's A Hand-book of Volapük, which has a fair amount about Esperanto (and Volapük of course), taking place in the late 19th century. A quite funny interesting romp.